Box hinge



M ay V7, 1946.

C. w. CQYE 2,399,989

Box HINGE Filed Aug. 18, `1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORN EY May 7, 1946.

C. W. COYE BOX HINGE Filed Aug. 18, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR cLARENc: w. cove,

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Patented May 7, 1946 BOX HINGE Clarence W. Coye, Dayton, Ohio, assignor to Moraine Box Company, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of MichiganV Application August 18, 1943, SerialNo. 499,108

` (.Cl. Iii-192) 2 Claims.

This invention relates to hinges for connecting the side walls of a box or a crate together in such a manner that the crate or -box can be factory assembled and shipped in a fiat-form to be subsequently arranged into a box-like structure after arriving at the point of use.

- An object of the invention is to provide a simpliedwire type of `box hinge that will Ypermit adjacent Walls of a box to hinge 180 relative to one another, and which is constructed and ar ranged in a manner that a relatively accurate right angle boxcorner can beprovided between adjacent Wall members.

Another object of the invention is to provide a simplified wire type of hinge for a box or crate wherein the members comprising the hinge may be driven into adjacent corners of a box structure independently during preassembly of the box so that adjacent walls ofthe box structure may subsequently be brought into hinged relationship and apart of the vhinge be bent downwardly against thebox to retain the hinge members into assembled relationship. n

Stillanother object of the linvention y:ls to provide a boxhinge of the wire type that is lconstructed and arranged in a manner that the hinge elements can be driven into the corner of a box by the use of ordinary driving tools, such as a hammer.

Another object of the invention is to-provide hinge members adaptedto co-operate to form a hinge for a box or crate corner that are provided with interlocking loops that extend from the shank of the hinge elements so that the shank of the hinge elements can receive and absorb a hammer blow for driving the same into a box without any substantial distortion of the shape of the interlocking elements.'

Still another object of the invention is to provide a hinge consisting of two members having Shanks that are adapted to be driven into an object, and which are provided with interlocking means extending from the Shanks in such a mannerthat they will not be distortedwhen a hammer is used to drive the Shanks into an object.

Still another object of the4 invention is to provide a hinge in accordance with the foregoing object Wherein the shank consists essentially of a nail and which may have a barbed surface or a helical screw surface. 1

Further objects and advantages will become apparentfrom the drawings and the ,following description. l `Ein the drawings:

`Figure 1 isa perspective cross4 sectional view the hinge elements.

`illustrating the Aassembled relationship Aof the hinge members in adjacent walls of a box or crate corner. y

Figure 2 is aleross sectional -view of adjacent `walls of-abox or crate whereinthe hinge elements have been driven into the corners-prior to assembly of thewall members together. A

Figure 3 is .a vcross sectional-view illustrating .theassemblyof the membersshown in Figure 2 and with ione of the-hinge members. bent down- .wardlyl after assemblyto retain thehinge parts together. .V

:Figure 4 is a cross sectional .view of a -box or crate illustrating the manner inlwhich the hinge Amembers can be driveninto a box corner so that one wall of the corner will overlap an'adjacent `Wall topermitdirect nailing of the walls together.`

- Figure v5 is an` elevational view'of one of the hinge elements.

Figure 6is anelevational View ofthe other of .Figure 7 is a perspective cross sectional View of a modiedrhinge structure using a staple for one of themembers and a single wire as the other hinge element. l

Figure 8 is across sectional view of adjacent -corner ,members of a box or crate illustrating the hingeelements shown inf Figure 7 in position in the corners of the structure before assembly of the same.

l Figure 9 is an elevational view of the staple element of the hingestructure illustrated in Figure .7. i

Figure 10 is an elevational View of the hinge element that co-operates with the elementV illustrated in Figure 9,

In manufacturing crates, boxes andother items of similar nature, it is--desirable that the boxes belshipped; in a knocked-down condition to the destination and be subsequently assembled or arrangedinto a box arrangement for use in shipping` .various products. Such `an arrangement permits the boxes to be shipped inflmuch less space and. thereby reducing shippirigfcost.Y Also, thelbo'xes canf be used a: number of times because they. can be knocked-down after the product has been shipped and be returned to the factory for reuse. When `manufacturingsuch boxes it is desirable that the four side walls ofthe box or crate shall be hinged `together so that it is merelynecessary box structure of this type, it can be refolded when the top and bottom are removed and be returned for reuse.

One of the principal objects in providing a hinge structure for such boxes or crates is to permit folding of the walls of the box or crate so that they will lay in parallel adjacent relationship and the adjacent walls can be folded about a hinge connection to an extent of 180 whereby two adjacent walls may either lay in substantially planar alignment or can lay in face engagement with one another depending upon the direction in which the wall is folded. During process of manufacture of such folding boxes, or crates, it is desirable that each wallsection be capable of manufacture as an individual unit and subsequent assembly of the walls can be arranged merely by interlocking hinge elements that are provided in the various independent wall sections.

In Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, there is illustrated a box hinge that consists of two hinge elements I and I5 that are provided with head Vstructures adapted to interlock to provide a hinge for wall members to which they are attached.

The hinge element I0, illustrated in Figure 5, consists of a straight shank I I that has a pointed end I2 suitable Vto permit driving of the shank II into a wood member. The shank II may be of the barbed type, or may have helical ribs thereon to insure a satisfactory hold in the wood member into which it has been driven. The upper end of the shank I I is bent into the form of a U forming an eye I3 having an opening I4 therein. The U is closed on the shank II to prevent removal of an element from the opening I4 that may be inserted therein. The leg I6 of the U or eye I3 is formed at a right angle to the axis of the shank Il so that the top surface I'I of the eye I3 will be normal to the axis of the shank I I.

With the hinge element I0 formed in the manner as illustrated in Figure 5, a hammer blow can be imparted upon the surface I1, acting as a head for the shank I I of the hinge element I0 and if the hammer blow is square the entire shock of the blow will be taken by the shank II of theV hinge element in an axial direction so that the hinge element I0 can be driven into a wood member in a manner similar to any nail. In fact, the shank II may be in the form of a nail. If desired, the eye I3 can be bent downwardly slightly as illustrated by the dot-dash line I8 (Fig. 5) to make the head of the shank II more prominent and thus insure that the eye I3 will not be de'- formed when the shank II is being driven into a wood member by means of the conventional hammer.

In Figure 6 the co-operating hinge element I5 is illustrated and consists of a shank 20 having a pointed end 2|, the shank 26 being barbed or having a spiral groove therein in the same manner as Yreferred to in connection with the' shank II. The upper end of the shank 2li is bent at a right angle to the axis of the shank to form an extending arm 22 normal to the axis of the shank 20 having an Vupper surface 23 that is disposed at least normal to the axis of the shank 20 but preferably, as illustrated in the drawings, is directed downwardly slightly relative to the axis of the shank 20 so as to provide a head portion 24 that may be given a blow by a hammer to drive the shank into a wood member. The tip of the extending arm 22 has a point 25 thereon that is adapted to be driven into the Awood member to co-operate with the surface of the wood member and form an eye in a manner hereinafter described that retains the hinge element I0 therein.

In Figure 2 the hinge elements I0 and I5 have been illustrated in position as driven into the corners of a pair of co-operating walls for a box or crate structure. The hinge element I0 is driven into the box or crate wall 26 at substantially a 45 angle relative to the inner surface 2l of the wall 26. Of course, this angle referred to has been arbitrarily selected but has been found to be thev most desirable angle at which to drive the hinge element Ill. The element I0 will be driven by the use of a conventional hammer striking the head surface I'I of the hinge element to drive the same into the wall 26 in the same manner as the nail. The tip end 28 of the hinge element Ill may then be knocked over to prevent withdrawal of the hinge element from the wall 26 if the end protrudes through the wall 26. The eye I3 will be in vertical planar alignment with the corner 29 of the wall 26.

Similarly, the hinge element I5 is driven into a wall member 30 at substantially a 45 angle to the inner surface 3|, the tip end 32 being bent or knocked over to prevent withdrawal of the hinge element I5, if the end protrudes through the wall 30. As will be seen in Figure 2, the hinge element I5 has been driven into the wall 30 without causing any substantial deflection of the extending arm 22 because the hammer blows have been absorbed by the shank axially thereof rin the same manner as though a nail was being driven. Also, the extending arm 22 is disposed at a right angle to the corner 33 of the Wall 30 and at a right angle to the eye I3.

As illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 the walls 26 and 30 may now be brought into adjacent relationship so that the arm 22 projects through the eye I3. The tip end of the arm 22 is then imparted with a hammer blow to bend the same downwardly as illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 so that the end will lay against or drive into the surface 3I of the wall 30. It will thus be seen that the eye I3 cannot be removed from the hinge opening 34 provided by the co-opera- Ition of the arm 22 4and the surface 3I of the wall '30 after the arm 22 has been driven into engagement therewith. It will be noted that the axis of the shank 20 of the hinge element I5 is disposed on one side of the axis of the shank I I of the hinge element IIJ, and may be above or below the axis of the shank I I depending upon whether the eye I3 points upwardly or downwardly. Therefore, in order tol place the top surface of the wall 26 in planar alignment with the top surface of the wall 30 it will, of course, be necessary to drive the hinge element I5 into the corner 33 of the wall 30 at a slightly greater distance from the top edge of the Wall.30 than is required for the point at which the hinge element I0 will be driven into the wall 25.

As many of the hinge elements as desired may be driven into the respective corners of the walls 26 and 3U to provide any number of hinge joints between these walls.

By referring to Figures 1 and 3 it will be apparent that the wall 30 can be hinged 130 about the corner 29 of the wall 26 so that the surface 3l of the wall 30 may lay in engagement with the surface 21 of the wall 26, or the respective wall members 26 and 3IJ may lay in planarY alignment as illustrated by the dotted position of the wall 30. Also, with the 'hinge elements I0 and I5 being driven at the corners of the wall members '26 and'30 a relatively accurate and square box corner can be provided between the wall members when they are exposed to 90 with respect to one another, as illustrated by the full line position of the members in Figure 3.

In Figure 4 there is illustrated a slightly modilied arrangement of the manner in which the hinge elements l and I5 can be positioned with respect to the walls of a box or crate. In this modified arrangement the hinge element l0 has been driven into the surface 21a of the wall 26a a predetermined distance from the end 35 of the wall 26a. Also, the hinge element l5 has been driven into the surface 3m of the wall 30a a predetermined distance from the end 36 thereof, which latter distance is substantially greater than the former.

With the hinge members in position as illustrated in Figure 4, the wall a can overlap the end of the Wall 26a and lay in parallel engagement therewith so that a nail 31 can be driven through the wall 30a into the wall 26a to rigidly and securely hold the box together.

In the arrangement as previously illustrated with regard to Figure 3 the top and bottom wall of the box preferably holds the box walls in their desired arranged relationship.

The hinged joint illustrated in Figure 4 permits the wall 26a and 30a to lay in face engagement to permit folding of the wall members but the relative movement between the walls is limited to 90 as will be readily understood because of the overlapping end of the wall 30a.

In Figures 7 to 10, inclusive, there is illustrated a slightly modified arrangement of the hinge joint wherein the hinge joint consists of the hinge elements and 45. The hinge element 40 consists of a Wire that has been bent into the form of a U forming a staple member having the Shanks 4I and 42. This member 40 is preformed into the shape illustrated before it is driven into a wood member, such as the corner of a box or crate.

The hinge element is also constructed from a wire and consists of a straight shank 43 that has an arm 44 extending at a substantially right angle thereto which terminates in a downwardly extending arm portion 46 that is at substantially right angle to the arm 44.

The preformed wire hinge members 40 and 45 are driven by means of any suitable machine mechanism that is properly designed to prevent bending of the shanks of the hinge elements when being driven into a wood member.

In Figure 8 the hinge element 40 has been driven into a wall member 41 at the corner thereof so that the tip ends of the shanks 4I and 42 extend through the wall member in a manner that they can be subsequently bent over to prevent removal of the staple 40 from the wall member 41. The hinge element 45 has been driven into a wall member 48 in a manner similar to th'e hinge element, or staple 40, and has the end thereof bent over to prevent removal of the hinge element.

In Figure 8 it will be noted that the arms 44 and 46 are disposed relative to the inner surface 49 of the wall 48 to provide a substantially large open area through which the head ofthe staple 46 can pass to permit the arms 46 and 44 to pass through the head 50. The arm 44 will be given a hammer blow after assembly of the hinge elements together to cause the arm 46 to drive down into the surface 49 of the wall 48, as illustrated in Figure 7, to thereby form a closed eye with the wall 49 which prevents removal of the head 55 of the staple 4l] therefrom.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the hinge provided by this invention greatly simplifies the assembly of wall members in hinged relationship, and that the hinge elements described with regard to Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, avoid the necessity of the use of any special machinery or devices to drive the hinge elements into the desired members. While the hinges disclosed and described herein constitute preferred forms of the invention, yet it will be readily understood that the device is capable of alteration without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that all such modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims are intended to be included herein.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a hinge for pivotally connecting the adjacent edges cf a pair of wall members, a first hinge element having one end formed as a straight shank adapted to be driven into one of said Wall members, and having its other end formed into a loop, one leg of the loop joining the sh'ank at the end thereof at a right angle and the end of said loop abutting said shank at a point spaced from said right angle to close said loop, and a second hinge element having one end formed as a straight shank adapted to be driven into the other of said pair of wall members and having its other end formed as an integral arm joining said shank at substantially right angles to form a hook passing through th'e closed loop of said first hinge element and bent into engagement With the wall member, said arm lying in a plane through the axis 0f the shank of said second hinge element.

2. In a hinge for pivotally connecting the adjacent edges of a pair of wall members, a first hinge element having one end formed as a straight shank adapted to be driven into one of said wall members, and having its other end formed into a loop, one leg of the loop joining the shank at the end thereof at a right angle and the end of said loop abutting said shank at a point spaced from said right angle to close said loop, and a second hinge element having one end formed as a straight shank adapted to be driven into the other of said pair of wall members and having its other end formed as an integral arm joining said shank at substantially right angles to form a hook passing through the closed loop of said first hinge element and bent into engagement with the wall member, said arm lying in a plane through the axis of th'e shank of said second hinge element, and each of said right angle portions forming an impact surface.

CLARENCE W. COYE. 

